1. Ashley Creek Flood StudyCl*ty of Kallo spell
Planning Department
7 - 2"dSued Ems, Suite 2111 Kalispell, Montana 59901
Telephone: (406) 751-1850
Fax* o6) 751-1858
W s : kallspellplanning.com
NffiMo UM
TO: Jim Pick, City Manager
FROM: Tom Jentz, Doctor
RE* Ashley Creek Flood Study - Council Wxk Session
ATE: July 12,2006
The DNRC (on behalf of FEM s in the final stages of reprising a flood study for
the Ashley Creek drainage. The revised study beings approximately 3 miles
south of Kalispell at the intersection of US 93 and extends upstream to South
Meridian Road in Kalispell. DNRC staff has requested an opportunity to
present their findings in the updated flood study to the Kalispell City Council.
The Ashley Creek Flood Study was one of 4 studies requested by Flathead
County several years ago specifically to address perceived errors or significantly
.tly
changed conditions. This is the only study that impacts the Kalispell urban
area.. Ashley Creek was chosen as a study area because of the significant
flooding during the spring of 1997 and the latter removal of several undersized
culverts by the railroad on ashler Creek down by the south entrance to the US
93 Bypass when the railroad line was abandoned 6 or so years ago. It was
anticipated that the culverts served as a dam during high water events and the
subsequent removal would accordingly alter the flood profile. In reality, it was
etermined through the Study that only minor changes occurred to the
floodplain when compared to the original flood study conducted in 1980.
NRC staff would still like an opportunity to present their findings to the City
council in a work session format on the evening of July 17. Attached is a
nears release describing the community open house scheduled for the
afternoon of July 17th.
Date: July 10, 2006
For More Information contact;
Dan Bushnell
NRC Public Info, Officer
(406) 4
dabuhneli@rnt.ov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Meefing to Be Meld on Preliminary Floodplain Map for Flathead county
Kalispell, Mont. -- The Montana Department of Natural resources and Conservation DNRC ,
Water Resources Division, in cooperation with Flathead County and the City of Kalispell will be
holding a public open house regarding the new flood hazard maps for Flathead County. The
open house will be at the Earl Bennett Building 1035 First Ave. West, Kalispell on Monday July
17 th, from 4-00-6:00 p.m. with mapping presentations being held at 4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and
5:30 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend to also learn more about flood
insurance, floodplain rules and regulations, and floodplain management in general.
The open house will serve as a preview of preliminary naps to obtain initial public comment
regarding the data used for the maps. New raps that will be incorporated are the study areas in
a portion of Ashley Creek, approximate study of the North Fork River above Columbia Falls, the
restudy of portions of Trurnble Creek and Spring Creek north of Montana Highway his ay 35. These
studies are just one aspect of a larger federally funded project to generate digital flood hazard
information raps for Flathead County.
Staff from the DNRC l=loodplain Program, DNRC's study contractor PBSU , Flathead County
and the City of Kalispell will be on hand to answer questions, provide an overview of the
floodplain management studies, and provide information about the entire countywide digital flood
hazard mapping project.
"Although flood elevations have not changed along existing flood hazard maps, befter
topographic information has allowed for better refinement of flood boundaries," explained Traci
Mt Sears -Tull, the Flathead County Planner who is coordinating the Floodplain Program. "The
new floodplain maps are intended to provide reliable and more detailed information to Flathead
County in an effort to guide future development in flood -prone areas."
After this initial review of the maps, the data gathered during the open house will be used to
refine the maps. Later this summer, the public will be provided an opportunity to comment on
the refined snaps before they are finalized for future development its Flathead County,
For further information ation contact Traci M. Beans -Tull} Flathead County F loodplain Coordinator at
06- 51- 2 r Millie Bowman, an, NRC Map Modernization Coordinator, at -6656.
� N RC